More heroin from Afghanistan pouring into U.S. cities

kansascity.com ^ | Posted on Fri, Jan. 05, 2007 | Marisa Taylor

[Lurker]

We should just buy every scrap of opium they produce at market rates and refine it into morphine which could then be sold, once again at market prices, on the open market.

But leave it to FedGov idiots to completely overlook the free market solution to their made up problem.

L

[FreedomCalls]

We should just buy every scrap of opium they produce at market rates and refine it into morphine which could then be sold, once again at market prices, on the open market.

And there currently is a world-wide shortage of legal morphine (it's made from the same strain of opium poppies that illegal heroin derives from). It's a win-win for everybody. Less opium to be made into herion, more legal pain relieving drugs for medicine, legitimate jobs for Afghans that can't do anything else (it's such a perfect climate for poppies that they grow wild there), less money for the Taliban, more incentive to get legitimate trade and business networks up and functioning, more tax money for the Afghan government, and so forth. Like was said up thread, is there any downside to just purchasing the damned opium from the Afghans?

[pandoraou812]

I have to agree with you ...

[pandoraou812]

Thats what I think too. I have read its the only way for them to make money and I think thats BS. What I want to know why we allow them to keep growing them.

[geopyg]

I recall question and answer session when Kharzai (sp?) was meeting with Bush a year or two ago. He was asked about the increase in production since the Taliban. He was very straight forward and said that his government offered money to burn the poppy fields. Upon hearing this, regular farmers converted their crops to poppies. (oops!)

Kharzi then went on to extol the virtues of pomegranate as I recall, of which Afghanistan had once been a world-class provider! From the looks of this recent article I guess the pomegranate industry hasn't been too successful.

[Lurker]

is there any downside to just purchasing the damned opium from the Afghans?

Then there would be no opportunity for payoffs to thousands of border guards, drug enforcement agents, and politicians.

The other downside is that there would be one less imaginary Government hobgoblin to terrify their citizens with.

Can't have that.

L

[tina07]

who would for example, my (*cough*-*cough*) governor...Corzine give all those clean needles to, a thing he just passed. Dumbest 'program' ever invented IMO, sounds like enabling to me.

[KarinG1]

Perhaps the headline should read:

Dog Bites Man!

Junkies get heroin and will continue to get it until they decide to stop getting it or die. Your dvd player may be sacrificed in the process, but there is little that can be done about it. Leaving the Taliban in power would not have saved a single dvd player or prevented any junkies from procuring heroin.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Would bringing Afghanistan into the pharmaceutical morphine business result in a glut? Methinks some drug companies might not be happy.

[pandoraou812]

I don't know how I feel about the needle exchange..... I feel it enables but if it stops some dumb kid from getting Hep C or AIDS it might save a life. Many kids get involved with dope without realizing what it really is.... I know my own daughter did at 16 yrs old. Rehabs didn't work but leaving her rear end in jail did. She is straight, married and going to school in England now and has a 2 yr old son.... I had no idea she was doing drugs until I saw her hand had needle marks. She hid it so well and so did all her friends.... I live in an upper middle class neighborhood and we have had so many young kids die here its sickening..... I don't know if there is going to be much difference with the needle program.... Once you are a junkie you will find away to get your drugs and needles no matter what you have to do. You will steal , lie and break your family's hearts.....I don't like Corzine but I didn't like Gov. Jim McGreevey either.....I am waiting for his favorite rest stop where he met his boyfriends to be named for him.... I don't think NJ will ever not be corrupt and I can't wait until I can leave and retire.

[TigersEye]

Afghani heroin has always been coming to this country. I think there are only stories in the press about it now to try to make Pres. Bush and the WOT look bad for the U.S. More leftist attempts to undermine this country. We're there to kill terrorists not run a DEA operation. Leftist scum can stuff it.

[TigersEye]

Well then we just have to figure out who's more like Mao; Hillary or McCain.

[tina07]

My nephew is 24 and trying to kick drugs and alcohol, 15 days so far. Just told me he too did heroin. I thought the meth he did was bad enough, I guess he has done everything. His brain is fried, he has no memories of his childhood. 2 public drunkenness charges of late while on probation for a DUI in another state. I hope and pray he stays clean. He's also bipolar, unknown if the drugs caused it or visa-versa. God bless your daughter for beating it.

Oh, and I totally agree with your last sentence..can't wait to join the exodus from this state! My daughter just jumped the border to PA last month!

[pandoraou812]

You nephew and you and your family will be in my prayers.... What my daughter put me through was pure hell. When the insurance ran out we spent over 60 grand in our own money. We would bail her out and she would promise to get straight...the lies she could tell us I still can't believe I bought. When she was in jail I could finally sleep. I also took collect calling off the phone.

Meth is another terrible addiction. I really hope it works out for him . Its hard to use tough love but thats what I finally had to do. Best of luck to him and your family. I will freep mail you something. ~~Pandora~~

[BJClinton]

Actually we wouldn't really need to spend any money. It would be a legal cash crop and would pay for itself. In fact, it could be taxed and become a major source of hard currency for the Afghan government.